Apparatus foe



UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. FAIRLAMB, SR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING SPARKS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 624, dated March 3, 1838.

draft so as to burn anthracite or other coal.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a hollow enlargedfixture as rep# resented in the annexed drawing marked A, A, which Iplace at or near the top of the flue. This may be varied in shape andsize to suit the place for which it is designed. The globular form Ithink the best, as represented by Figure l, A, A. .Inthis globularenlarged xture, with its center common to the center of the hollow spacein the globe, and in a perpendicular line with the center of the flue, Iprovide an inverted cone B, with concave surface at its base, of lessdiameter than that of the space in the globular enlargement, and greaterthan the diameter of the flue of the chimney. The diameter of thisinverted cone I vary to suit the fuel used,'making it larger for woodthan for coal. I support this cone or cup in its place by rods or othersufficient fastenings, lextending from the periphery of the hollowenlargement to the bottom of the cup or basin. From the bottom of thisbasin I construct one or more tubesA C', extending down to a box D,placed at the bottom or at any convenient place about the chimney orstack, for the reception of all the materials that are precipitated inthe basin B. The door of this box should be sotight as not to admitatmosphere sufficient to interfere .with

the lightest particles that may fall in the basin.

I also construct hollow tubes or spouts E, extending upward through andinto vthe hollow enlargement with stops, to admit,

when necessary, the atmospheric air, thereby` furnishingA the requisiteoxygen to produce combustion, increase the draft of the chimney, andprevent the return of steam from the exhaust pipes Gr, in locomotivesand other engines propelled by steam. I make the number to correspondwith the size of the chimney.

To burn anthracite or other coal in locomotive or other steam engines Iconstruct the above described apparatus at or near th'e bottom of thechimney as represented by Fig. 2, extending the exhaust pipes up throughthe basin withthe aperture closely fitted to the pipes, which passthrough the center of the inverted core. By opening` the air spout-s thedraft will be increased without the aid of exhaust steam and may beregulated at pleasure. Placed at or near the bottom of the chimney thisapparatus mayv not prevent the escape of dust as effectually as whenplaced at the top, but it will be found even than, a much bettersafeguard against sparks, when burning wood, than Y any contrivanceheretofore used within my knowledge. It may be rendered more complete byplacing the enlarged apparatus at bottom and top, two instead of one.draft will be found to exceed that produced The by any mode heretoforeknown or used,by

closing the air spouts when the exhaust steam is introduced. When commonchimneys are being constructed for buildings, this enlargement may bemade at the top, of the saine materials as those used for the rest,inserting the basin and air spouts as in other cases, or it may be madeseparately and closely fitted to the top of the chimney, as uponchimneys already made. To lower chimneys of locomotives to enable themto pass under bridges and low objects, instead of the usual mode thechimney may be madev in parts sliding into each other similar to thetubes of a telescope the base of each `piece being made larger than thetop to fa cilitate the fall. The chimney may be raised and lowered bycommon machinery at y pleasure.

The operation of my improvement is as followspviz: So soon as any heatis coinmunicated from the fire to the enlarged cavity A, A, theatmospheric air being the.

heaviest rushes through the air spouts E, into the enlarged hollow spaceincreasing the draft and supplying the necessary oxygen to effect thecombustion of the sparks,v

and giving a second and effectual impetus to the exhaust steam ofengines, when carried out through the chimney, passing out freely withthe smoke. The moment there is sufficient heat communicated to theenlarged hollow space A', A, to produce rareed air, a vacuum and eddycurrent are formed, which arrest the vfurther ascent of sparks, scales,cinders, dust, and ashes, which, by the laws of gravity, areprecipitated into the basin B and pass down through tube C, to boX D,and are effectually prevented from passing out at the top.

I construct this apparatus of sheet iron, copper, tin, 'or of any othersubstance suited to the place for which it is designed. In burninganthracite or other coal, IV prefer cast iron for the basin, which willbe greatly exposed to the heat in steam engines.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is*- The construction of the above described apparatus for preventingsparks, scales dust, cinders, or ashes, from going out ott chimneys, andof increasing the draft of the same so as to facilita-te the burning ofanthracite and other coal in locomotive and other steam engines, as Wellas in common .chimneys attached to buildings.

Witness my hand at the city of Philadelphia this 19th day of December,1837.

JONAS P. FAIRLAWB, SENR. Witnesses:

S. C. LUDFOUL, VIRGIE GIENELL.

